The Stroke Research Consumer Forum - a platform that gives an opportunity for survivor’s voices to be heard and a chance to shape where future research is heading. Interested in the outcomes? On behalf the Florey Institute, I put together a report of the findings.

I wish I had the luxury of choosing a 'cheat day' or not. With a 'cheat day' or 'cheat meal' you feel guilty for about an hour after you've inhaled an entire pizza with a side of chocolate. Or to take it one step further, you feel extra guilty (and hungover) on Monday when you've had a 'cheat weekend' of endless wine and half a packet of cigarettes. But, like 'they say', tomorrow's another day. You have THE CHOICE to return to (or start) your 'healthy habits' lifestyle. Matcha, kale, chia, kefir, hemp, coconut everything, protein balls, raw anything, amaranth, acai bowls, longevity bowls, farro, kimchi, cauliflower and just about anything with turmeric in it. On top of this, exercise for at least 30 mins per day, practice mindfulness and write in your gratitude journal before bed. Make sure you budget for your overpriced superfoods and really overpriced activewear.

For some women, this sounds heavenly, for other women - this sounds like pure hell. Regardless of which category you fall into - it's still a choice. By no means is this a 'pity post' or an 'I'm so incredibly bitter that I can't run along a crowded St Kilda sidewalk of a Saturday morning in my activewear only stopping to sip my alkaline water and touch up my makeup". To each their own. But, you have THE CHOICE to be fit, healthy, average, unfit, a slob or a bit of both. Lucky you, really. Because us girls fighting the tiresome, extremely frustrating battle that comes with a chronic illness - we don't have a choice. You have good days and bad days, but no days where the illness (visible or not) isn't there. Almost like ground-hog day where you wake up with the dreaded 'brain fog', take your necessary meds, eat, walk around zombie-like for an hour and finally be ready to start the day at around 10.00am. Some of us have to make appointments with physios simply to ask "If I start walking more (to the shops/beach/local neighbourhood) will it degenerate my legs and hips faster?" Rather than, "If I increase my cardio from 30 to 40 minutes, will I achieve the perfect beach body in time for summer?"

As a result of my acquired brain injury, I also acquired epilepsy. Thanks universe! Anyway, it's a pretty shitty thing, but there's worse things in life. Click the link to read the piece I wrote for News.com.au: https://goo.gl/vtxRgL

It's a privilege to be invited by Brain Injury Australia and the Stroke Foundation to sit on the panel with industry leaders, carers and other survivors at the Melbourne Brain Centre! On Monday 15th of August we will be discussing the impacts of brain injury and ways to prevent this devastating disease. Please share this post with any interested parties.

"...pride movements for people with disabilities — like Crip Power or Mad Pride — have not gained the same sort of traction in the American consciousness. Why? One answer is that we have a much clearer collective notion of what it means to be a woman or an African-American, gay or transgender person than we do of what it means to be disabled."

"Why, as a photographer, is providing these stories and experiences visibility so important?"

And she answered perfectly.

"...It's very important for society to see these images - there's nothing sensational about transgender kids. Again, at the end we’re pretty much the same: we’re all souls who want to live happy and give meaning to our life and others..."

With the help of Hollywood (and stars like Laverne Cox, Andreja Pejic, Caitlyn Jenner, Isis King, Conchita Wurst) - the public has become MUCH more accepting of people who identify as transgender. Slowly, mainstream TV series are even stepping up to the plate. Hollywood and inclusion? Two words I bet no one would have put in the same sentence 10 years ago.

The point of this post is, basically, society is finally starting to recognise the importance of visibility for minority groups. Positive visibility in the media (usually) translates to eventual acceptance. So - why can't this be the case for people with a disability? We'll cover that in an upcoming post.